I mean, the Rockets are in the heart of the playoff hunt and nipping at the heels of the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is 17-11, Houston is 16-12.

And imagine, he is doing this with a payroll that is in the bottom third of the league. That has to make his boss happy.

When Morey took over as GM in 2007, the Rockets had finished third in the division and fifth in the conference, the same position they are in now.

So he hasn’t exactly run the franchise into the ground, right?

Anyway, it’s not like Morey isn’t trying to improve the team.

I find it hard to believe that so many of you continue to be against the Rockets acquiring Pau Gasol. The four-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA Gasol that is.

Gasol would move the Rockets into a different NBA social class, the upper middle class at least.

(In theory, so would Carmelo Anthony. But let’s not have that debate. The Rockets tried like crazy to get him from Denver last year, but couldn’t pull it off. The Knicks will not keep playing 1.000 ball when Anthony returns to the lineup and the Linsanity will dictate that Anthony gets the blame. But Anthony isn’t going anywhere and for New York to win in the postseason, Anthony will play a major role.)

Back to the Rockets and genuine possibilities …

I understand you really like Luis Scola. So do I. I understand you really believe in Kevin Martin. So does his close family members.

But to be a really good team, you must have premier players. Gasol has been and is that, plus he is a big man, which would make his presence even more significant to the Rockets.

Gasol at the 4 with Dalembert at the 5 would be a huge improvement over what the Rockets can put on the floor right now. David Stern nixed the deal the last time, but if a similar version of the deal comes up, it is a move the Rockets have to make.

The Lakers’ need for a point guard is the chief reason they are willing to part with Gasol, saving a little moolah is secondary on that list.

A hindsight thought is one wonders if LA would have been interested in Goran Dragic, whose family really believes in him too. I don’t think Dragic is anything special, and heck, the Rockets could have just grabbed some guy from Harvard to be a backup point guard.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry told me that Dragic is a heck of a lot better than most know. Perhaps the Lakers are in the know on that one.

Regardless, this is such an interesting NBA season. Don’t get too lost in what happens during the regular season. It’ll likely all shakeout in the playoffs, where, as constituted, a team like the Rockets will have little chance of making any noise.